VIU. 



INTEODUCTION. 



is called ; after it has been ruptured by tbe expansion of the cap, it forms a ring, round 



the stem, C. Now of the genus Amanita there are only three plants, among which to choose 



oiu-s ; for we know our volva is loose, remaining like a sheath, and in all the others, it is set 



down as obliterated. Characters are pointed out in these tlnree applying to the margin of 



the pileus, 1, margin even: 2 and 3, margin striate: this means that the flesh being thin 



towards the margin of the pileus, the gUls beneath cause an elegant ribbed appearance, but 



ours is smooth, E., like the shell of an egg, then it cannot be Nos. 2 or 3, but is the first Agaric 



of the ' Enghsh Flora ', one of the most perfect and elegant, and one of the most deadly ; 



fortunately not common. There remains now only to verify the particular description, by 



making a longitudinal section, and however the young botanist may be perplexed with the 



novelty or difficulty of terms, no diffuse explanation gives half as good and determinate ideas, 



so that our first and last advice will always be, — acquii-e the terms of strict botanical usage. 



Here are the botanical characteristics of our Agaric, extracted from the ' Enghsh Flora '. 



" Volva ' loose, mp.rgin of the pileus even. 

 "1. A. Phalloides. Pileus more or less scaly, margin not striate, stem hollow above, volva bulbous. Pileus 

 two to three inches broad, fleshy, at first hemispherical, then expanded or even slightly depressed, sometimes slightly 

 umbonate, irregularly scaly from the fragments of the volva adhering to the surface, which is slimy when moist. 

 The margin quite even and free from striae ; white, straw-colom-ed, oMve-gi'een, with brown markings, &c. Gills 

 niunerous, unequal, ventricose, broader in front, pure white, sub-adnexed, sometimes quite free ; when young 



'V^ 



cV. ^-"-■^a-.is^' 



A. Volva entire. B. Volva in matnrity. C. Ring — remains of the inner Veil. D. Edge of Pileus 

 to which the ring, C, was attached. E, Section showing the shape of gills. 



covered with a membrane, which in the course of expansion either falls off or forms a deflexed ring. Stem three to 

 four inches high, half an inch thick, fibrdlose, with a few adprcssed scales arising from the partial ring, which was 

 at first in contact with it, attenuated upwards, bulbous below, and there furnished with a variously lobed volva 

 which is adnate with the base of the stipes, but has the margin free and more or less expanded ; in general hollow 

 at the apex for some distance down, though occasionally the inner substance is only a little more spongy than the 

 outer." 



' A. volvaceus of Bulliard has a loose, marked volva, but the spores ste purple-brown . 



